Has Texas Longhorns RB Quintrevion Wisner earned the starting spot?

DALLAS – The Texas Longhorns running back room has been a hot topic of conversation since before the season began. Season-ending injuries to Cedric Baxter and Christian Clark immediately led to questions about the depth at the position and whether Jaydon Blue was ready for a greater workload.

But six games into the season, it’s Quintrevion Wisner — who contributed primarily on special teams last year — who has stepped up to be the team’s starting running back.

Wisner, who took over the backfield in the second half against Mississippi State after Blue lost two fumbles, took the lead again in a 34-3 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in Dallas on Saturday. He finished the game with 13 carries for a career-high 118 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for 12 yards. He completed runs of 36 and 43 yards in the second quarter. On the first long run, he fumbled at the goal line, but Silas Bolden caught him and recovered the ball in the end zone. Wisner quickly made up for it with a 43-yard score on the first play of the next possession.

Wisner now leads the Longhorns with 278 rushing yards so far this season. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was asked after the game if he had earned the right to start ahead of Jaydon Blue, but did not answer “yes” or “no.” Instead, Sarkisian said the offense will continue to be at stake. Against Oklahoma, it happened to be Wisner.

“Tre Wisner, Jayden Blue, Ryan Niblett, Jerrick Gibson. Every game was a different guy showing that we have to win this game at the running back position,” Sarkisian said. “We’re preparing our guys for the game week after week, and at the end of the week we’re like, ‘Okay, what’s the plan?’ To show who, when and how and put them in the best position to succeed. That’s why Tre didn’t plan to come back today, but you can feel his presence on the field. The hand we tried to consolidate the win was different for everyone and I don’t think anything will change that.

Counting Ryan Wingo’s 55-yard rushing total in the win over Michigan, the Longhorns have had another leading rusher in four games this season. But if Wisner continues to be a hot commodity, he will be the team’s leading rusher from start to finish.

The Longhorns host the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT.